Expressing "again" in the future with "zai"

While 又 (yòu) is used for "again" in the past, 再 (zài) is used for "again" in the future. That is, 再 is used when something has happened once and it will happen again.

再 as "Again"

The basic structure for using the future "again" is:

Structure

Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 我 明天 再 来 。Wǒ míngtiān zài lái.I'll come again tomorrow.
• 请 再 说 一 遍 。Qǐng zài shuō yī biàn.Say it again, please.
• 我 想 再 看 一 遍 。Wǒ xiǎng zài kàn yī biàn.I want to watch it again.
• 我 可以 再 试 一下 吗 ？Nǐ zài shì yīxià ma?Can I try it again?
• 我 希望 能 再 去 一 次 。Wǒ xīwàng néng zài qù yī cì.I hope that I can go there again.

In fact, this structure is present in one of the most common Chinese phrases: "再见!" In this case, it literally means "See you again!"

再 as "Another" or "Some More"

The English word "another" is often avoided altogether by using 再.

Structure

Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 再 吃 一点 。Zài chī yīdiǎn.Eat more.
• 服务员 ，再 来 两 瓶 啤酒 。Fúwùyuán, zài lái liǎng píng píjiǔ.Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.
• 我们 再 等 他 五 分钟 。Wǒmen zài děng tā wǔ fēnzhōng.Let's wait for him five more minutes.
• 你 再 给 我 五十 块 。Nǐ zài gěi wǒ wǔshí kuài.Give me fifty more kuai.
• 他 问 我们 能 不 能 再 给 他 几 天 时间 。Tā wèn wǒmen néng bu néng zài gěi tā jǐ tiān shíjiān.He asked if we can give him a few more days.

再 as "Continuous Action"

Here 再 is similar to the English "for a while longer" or "keep [going/doing]."

Structure

Subj. + 再 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 再 找 找 。Zài zhǎozhao.Keep looking a little bit.
• 再 等 等 他 吧 。Zài děngdeng tā ba.Keep waiting for him for a little while.
• 时间 还 早，再 玩 一会儿 吧 。Shíjiān hái zǎo, zài wán yīhuǐ'er ba.It's still early. Let's keep playing for a while.
• 现在 才 六 点 半，我 想 再 睡 一会儿 。Xiànzài cái liù diǎn bàn, wǒ xiǎng zài shuì yīhuǐ'er.It's only 6:30. I want to sleep a little longer.
• 你们 想 不 想 再 休息 一会儿 ？Nǐmen xiǎng bu xiǎng zài xiūxi yīhuǐ'er? Do you guys want to rest for a little longer?

See Also

• "Never again" with "zai ye bu"

• Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"

• Again in the past with "you"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 157) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 202) →buy

Websites

• Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Using 再 and 又